Slow Internet: computer, mobile device (troubleshooting, causes, fixes) (Nothing else worked)

If you reported your problem regarding slow Internet connection and your Internet service provider exhausted every option to find a solution to it, you should subscribe to a new provider.

There are always more options available. All you need to do is to check the Internet plans of other providers carefully and make sure to ask if there is a good bandwidth coverage in your area.

Also, ask other users about their personal experience with the provider you intend to choose, in order to find out more information. 

Maybe the reason why your Internet connection is slow is the ISP/Operator itself, due to technical difficulties they are not aware of. Contact them and let them know of this issue. They will instruct you on how to troubleshoot, and resolve the issue by yourself, in case if there isn't a problem on their end.

The reason why the Internet is slow on your smartphone or tablet may not be the Internet itself, but your device's operating system. The operating system is a complex work of art with many tasks and processes running in the background, each of which is designated a duty so that you enjoy a seamless experience while using the device. Some processes are responsible for playing music, others for connecting your device to the Internet, others for getting the most out of the Internet speed. Maybe the Internet is running slow because an application became unresponsive, or a system process got stuck. Restart your mobile device will restart all the tasks and processes on your operating system, and possibly resolve this issue.

Press and hold the power button and turn off your device. Then, turn your device back on after 2 minutes of inactivity, and check if your Internet is slow again.

The extent of damage malicious software can do to your device is far and wide. Depending on the virus type, and the system files it infects, it can render the operating system unusable, stop a program from working, and more. It is possible that a virus is slowing down your device, and the Internet speed, as your device can't use its full potential. In this case, removing the virus should be all you need to do, to make your device fast again. Open an antivirus software, scan your device, and remove all the viruses, if detected.

Having an antivirus software alone, without other precautions taken on your end doesn't warrant the safety of your device and its data. Viruses are released frequently to an extent that the antivirus provider may not be fast enough to respond. Other ways to protect your device from viruses you can try right now are:

• Don't install every program you find online - preferably, install programs from official app stores;
• Update your antivirus software as soon as an update is available;
• Check the email address of the sender - there are people impersonating famous brands like Amazon, or Netflix, asking for your account and payment details - it's sometimes impossible to tell if one is fake, unless you check the email address.
• Don't open emails with suspicious content (especially Junk emails);
• Install programs made by credible developers, downloaded from their website only;
• Scan files with online scanning tools, before opening them on your device (e.g. virustotal).
  
  

To learn how to scan for and remove viruses, as well as to protect your device from threats, check out the Viruses / Spywares / Malware solutions.

Another reason why the Internet connection can be slow is the place where the router is positioned. TVs, microwaves, computers, and other appliances can interfere with the router's signal and weaken it.

The solution in this case is to place your router away from other electronic devices, as much as possible. In that way, the signal will be stronger and the Internet speed faster.

Maybe the Internet speed is slow because the Internet plan you are subscribed to doesn't meet your needs. 

To check this if this is the case: 

1. Check the contract you signed with your Internet service provider and see what subscription plan you have and what the Internet speed is (for instance 10Mbps Download speed / 1 Mbps Upload speed)
2. Run a test on speedtest.net and see what the actual Internet speed is.
   
   

If the current Internet speed doesn't match or isn't close enough to the one you pay for, report the problem to the ISP. If the speeds match, then there is a different issue, such as a virus that has invaded your computer, or the Internet plan doesn't meet your needs (in this case, you should consider upgrading it).

Should you decide to upgrade the Internet plan, make sure to think carefully about what you need the Internet connection for (games, streaming, watching TV, browsing the net only, office business, programming etc.). For instance, If you are a gamer, you need a greater Internet traffic (more than 100 GB or unlimited), low ping value, and high download speed (around 20 - 30 Mbps).

An average Internet speed (10 - 20 Mbps Download speed) should be enough for a simple web browsing or an office business.

If you live in an area where every house/flat has a router, it is possible to experience difficulties with the Internet connection's speed. In order to broadcast the Internet connection, routers need a certain channel. There are 11 (or maybe more, depends on the router) channels which routers may use. By default, routers are set to automatically choose a channel, but you can manually set the channel you like to use.

If your Internet connection is too slow, changing the channel should improve its speed. Set a channel that is used by a few routers.

Your next question might be: "How do I know which channel is used the least?" WifiInfoView is the answer to your question. Run it and after the scan is completed, see which channel is used by a very small number of routers (or no routers at all) and set it.

Access the router's user interface. Usually typing 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome etc.) and entering the router's username and password (default: admin/admin) will be enough. Having entered the router's user interface, click on Wireless Security (or similar name), locate the Wireless Settings (or similar) tab and change the channel (set to Automatic by default).

Note: Every router has a different user interface. Usually, the channel settings are under the Wireless settings section. But, if you have trouble finding it, consult the router's manual, or the manufacturer's website.

This helpful guide will help you find the DEFAULT router IP address, username and password.